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Post by datnismo on Mar 11, 2013 1:56:38 GMT 1
Hi guys looking for some tips to remove the late 70's underseal from the underside of my car?
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Post by Talking Hoarse on Mar 11, 2013 8:49:52 GMT 1
I dont have the answer - but share your concerns. The danger of course is that the old underseal separates from the panel and moisture creeps behind so causing rot. Underseal also looks unsightly when sprayed under bonnet (like Ziebart treated cars often were).
My own 910 was liberally covered with underseal - likely by the supplying dealer. I recall that some Datsun /Nissan dealers in UK used Cadulac underseal (if that means anything ...) in 1970's & 80's.
I jet washed it aggressively, pushed, pulled, scraped, tugged at the black stuff to no avail. Only a very few bits flaked off in my case - mostly where oversprayed on hoses & wheel arch liners (and in my case wheels & tyres too) etc. I admit that I didnt try solvent (white spirit seems likely). So as it seemed so well applied I ended up overspraying the black stuff liberally with black wax (from Bilt Hamber). Yes I agree this was a compromise.
However I have a careful poke and a prod every time I look under the car, armed with a brush & more black wax, and 18 months later I have no reason to think I did the wrong thing.
Ed
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Post by gainsb1 on Mar 11, 2013 11:07:53 GMT 1
Cleaned it from my engine bay with engine de-greaser (gallon can - used about half of it... if that helps with quantity.) Does require lots of elbow grease. Make sure that you drive the car onto a couple of old duvets/covers to soak up what comes off. What doesn't come off is worth leaving and then re-coating, in my view.
Leigh (Area rep)
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Post by tss240zg on Mar 11, 2013 13:42:51 GMT 1
I was wondering how they did it also. Is there likely to be a lot of rot under underseal?
tss240zg
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Post by Ricky180B on Mar 11, 2013 19:41:11 GMT 1
The question that needs to be raised is what are you planning to do once its of  ? Re underseal or are you looking for the factory standard panel smooth finish |
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tommygoldy
club Member
Posts: 191
Location: North London
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Post by tommygoldy on Mar 11, 2013 21:21:07 GMT 1
I'm fairly confident that the underseal on my Cherry is the reason it hasn't rotted... Unless it comes off easily I say leave it alone. It's not the prettiest of stuff but if there's rust, moisture, or even an air gap under it I'd expect it to flake off pretty easily. A couple of bits came off my car following a thorough jetwash - they took the paint with them and left clean, unrusted metal. I don't think you need to worry about what's hiding underneath.
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tommygoldy
club Member
Posts: 191
Location: North London
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Post by tommygoldy on Mar 11, 2013 21:37:49 GMT 1
I'm fairly confident that the underseal on my Cherry is the reason it hasn't rotted... Unless it comes off easily I say leave it alone. It's not the prettiest of stuff but if there's rust, moisture, or even an air gap under it I'd expect it to flake off pretty easily. A couple of bits came off my car following a thorough jetwash - they took the paint with them and left clean, unrusted metal. I don't think you need to worry about what's hiding underneath. Incidentally, according to a sticker on the car the underseal on mine is by 3M. I presume applied at purchase. Similar to Ed, I've sprayed over with waxoyl, clear here - I think it looks better. I've also applied waxoyl directly to the bits where the underseal flaked off. I plan to put some primer and fresh underseal on but for the time being its better than nothing. Will be interesting to see whether these bits start to rust - as it's clear waxoyl I'll know about it as soon as it starts happening! |
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Post by datnismo on Mar 11, 2013 23:57:50 GMT 1
The question that needs to be raised is what are you planning to do once its of ? Re underseal or are you looking for the factory standard panel smooth finish Yeah that's what id probably do... paint the underside black |
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Post by datnismo on Mar 12, 2013 0:01:00 GMT 1
I'm fairly confident that the underseal on my Cherry is the reason it hasn't rotted... Unless it comes off easily I say leave it alone. It's not the prettiest of stuff but if there's rust, moisture, or even an air gap under it I'd expect it to flake off pretty easily. A couple of bits came off my car following a thorough jetwash - they took the paint with them and left clean, unrusted metal. I don't think you need to worry about what's hiding underneath. Dunno if i agree with you. As if you don't know if there is rust under the under seal your car could potentially get worse as by "not knowing" you could incur costs later on down the line. Thats just my opinion |
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tommygoldy
club Member
Posts: 191
Location: North London
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Post by tommygoldy on Mar 12, 2013 0:42:42 GMT 1
I'm fairly confident that the underseal on my Cherry is the reason it hasn't rotted... Unless it comes off easily I say leave it alone. It's not the prettiest of stuff but if there's rust, moisture, or even an air gap under it I'd expect it to flake off pretty easily. A couple of bits came off my car following a thorough jetwash - they took the paint with them and left clean, unrusted metal. I don't think you need to worry about what's hiding underneath. Dunno if i agree with you. As if you don't know if there is rust under the under seal your car could potentially get worse as by "not knowing" you could incur costs later on down the line. Thats just my opinion Depending on the area, you'd see any serious rust issues coming through to the other (painted) side of the metal (eg inside on the floor), elsewhere surface rust would stop the underseal from sticking to the metal and it would flake off quite easily. In my car its the non-undersealed bits that are rusting...  I say if it won't come off easily with a wire brush then it's doing its intended job and might as well be left alone. But I'm no expert  |
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Post by Ricky180B on Mar 12, 2013 8:26:35 GMT 1
Dunno if i agree with you. As if you don't know if there is rust under the under seal your car could potentially get worse as by "not knowing" you could incur costs later on down the line. Thats just my opinion Depending on the area, you'd see any serious rust issues coming through to the other (painted) side of the metal (eg inside on the floor), elsewhere surface rust would stop the underseal from sticking to the metal and it would flake off quite easily. In my car its the non-undersealed bits that are rusting... I say if it won't come off easily with a wire brush then it's doing its intended job and might as well be left alone. But I'm no expert Agreed. To much work and if its been on there for many years I would leave well alone. I would just recoat especially if after all this work all you intend to do is paint it black what's the point |
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Post by driveby on Apr 15, 2013 9:28:40 GMT 1
I don't think its that bad an idea and it is based on fact. The old Ziebart etc. will have dried oud considerably and lost its ability to reseal where broken by stone chips. It will be alot of work and be mindful of rubber bushings when using Gunk, deagreasers, diesel, petrol or anything else to break down the tar. A fresh coat of tetrosyl will be far more affective than the 30-40 year old layer that has been degraded and dried out by years of salt or dry air passing over it. Far cheaper to do than welding repairs, fuel or brake pipes being replaced I'll bet too.
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